Loading elevator



July 24, 1928.

D. W. PERIN LOADING ELEVATOR Filed Feb; 12,A 1926 3 Shee s I 11 vez? for Patented July 24, 1928.

Unirse s'iAiss PATENT ori-ics DONALD W. PERIN, 0F BROOKLINE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, T0 AMERICAN FREIGHT SERVICE, INC.,VOF NEW YORK, N. Y., A COR- V PORATION OF DELAWARE.

LOADING ELEVATOR.

`Application filed February 12, 1926. Serial No. 87,867.

` This invention relates to portable elevators or hoisting mechanisms which may be u sed in loading or unloading goods, or in moving the same between freight cars, platforms, piers or the like at different levels, and which aremore particularly intended to be used with portable containers disposed upon casters or otherwise movable, such as disclosed in my copending application No. 738,395, iiled September 18, 1924-. l

A device of the character disclosed in this invention is of advantage when it is desired to move containers of this type from freight cars to loading platforms or to the ground or between any substantially different levels. Means are provided whereby minor variations in levels b-etween fixed platforms, piers, floors and the like may be compensated for without necessitating the use of the elevating mechanism, while the latter is useful when differences in elevation of more than a few inches occur between the points of loading and unloading the container at warehouses, terminals, wharfs and the like. l

For this purpose I intend to provide'a strong, yet light and compact structure mounted upon wheels or rollers and` readily movable from place to place and provided with a lifting mechanism suitably disposed so that it may be operated manually by one person. Mounted uponwthe framework of y this elevator is a movable platform which may have means for engaging `the casters of portable containers and which is operatedfby the lifting mechanism. In order to make the device comparatively simple and compact, I prefer to connect the lifting means to one enge of the movable platform rather than to the corners or in any symmetrical manner, while I provide novel supporting means for the platform so that it will maintain an approximately level position under operative conditions.

A further feature of the invention is the provision of swingable guideways upon the movable platform, adapted to move upwardly or downwardly to engage platforms, iioors or the like at varying levels so that containers, or the like, may be rolled upon the vertically movable platform without the continual necessity of making minor changes in the level thereof.

A further aspect of my invention concerns the design of a strong and rigid framework for a portable hoisting device, which at the same time is arranged so that the operating mechanism can readily be supported with minimum need for extra supporting parts and with the maximum convenience afforded the operator.

rIhese and further objects of my invention will be apparent to thoseskilled inthe art upon a reading of the subjoined description in connection with the drawings.

\ In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic end view of a freight car and my portable elevating mechanism;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of my invention with parts broken away;

Fig. 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. i is section on line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an end elevation of my portable elevator;

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view of the arrangement of hoisting and supporting cables for the movable platform;

Fig. 7 is a section on line 7-7 of F ig. 6.

v As illustrated in the accompanying drawings, one embodiment of the preferred form of my invention consists of a rectangular framework 1, horizontally mounted upon rollers 2 in any conventional manner, and supporting upright frame members 3 which forni the main supporting means for the movable platform 4. The framework land the uprights `3 may be of any desired form, but preferably are constructed of Standardized metal sections such as angle members. As shown, the upright-s 3 consist of two closely spaced angle irons 5 and 6.y Pairs of-uprights 3 at each end of the mechanism are connected by the upper cross-members 8 which ai'e similarly formed of pairs of angle members with a space therebetween.

The movable platform /i may be of any desired type, butpreferably has a substantially rectangular frame of light metal beams 6 supporting two tracks l0 provided with spaced flanges 11 for the engagement of casters upon portable containers. At the sides of the platform 4raie brackets 21 having upstanding flanges 22V substantially aligned with the flanges 11 and having loops 2O for engagement with pintles 18 upon swinging guideways 16. Grooves 23, forming continuations of loops 20, permit the ready attachment or removal of the guideways, which may be secured to one or both sides of the platform 4 as conditions of use demand. Guideways 16 have upstanding flanges 17 which flare outwardly toward the outer ends of the guideways and which are substantially aligned with the flanges 22 adjacent their inner ends, thusV comprising means which may guide the casters of portable containers upon the tracks 10.

At its: corners the platforin4 may be provided with supporting arms 25 of any suitable form, which are adapted toengage portions of a cable 26 and may project into the spaces provided in the uprights 3. Cable 26 is suitably disposed in relation to a series of pulleys so that all parts of the platform 4 will be moved a substantially equal amount under all conditions of loading in spite of the unsynnnetrical arrangement of the lifting mechanism.

To this end are provided four pulleys 28 supported by the upper horizontal cross members, while adjacent the lower ends of the uprights 3, are a series of pulleys 30, 31, 32 and At the end of the mechanism at which the elevating mechanism is located, are disposed twopulleys 30, with their axes longitudinally disposed in relation to the platform 4, while adjacent each of the pulleys 30 are supported pulleys 31 with their axes disposed transversely of the platform. At the opposite end of the platform, pulleys 33 are located substantially in the plane ofpulleys 31, while adjacent one of these pulleys 33 is disposed a pulley 32, with its axis longitudinally arranged with relation to the platform 1. The arrangement of these pulleys and the endless cable 26 may be best understood with reference to Fig. 6 of the drawings, by which it' may be seen that adjacent each corner of the platform 4, sections 26 of a cable 26 are secured to arms 25 and are therefore movable in the same direction as the platform, while between each of these sections of cable 26 are sections 26b movable in an opposite direction. For example one section of run 26D of the cable extends upwardly from the pulley 33 which adjoins pulley 32, passing over a pulley 28 at the top of the fixed framework and extending` downwardly in the form of a run 26a to which a corner of the platform is secured; then passing under pulley 32 at the bottom of the fixed framework and having a-section 26) extending diagonally across the same (F ig. rllhis portion of the cable extends overl a pulley 28 at the top of the framework and is continued. in a vertically extending portion to which a corner of the framework 4 is secured. The cable is then brought under a pulley 33 and has a horizontal portion 26c which passes under reverse pulley 31 at the opposite end of the fixed framework and is continued in the form of an upwardly extending run 26b which is disposed over a pulley 28 and continued in a vertically extending run 26?L which supports another corner 25 of the frame. rlhe cable is then passed under ar pulley adjoining pulley 31 but having its axis located at right angles to the axis of that pulley. tion 26d of the cable. then extends transversely of the lower portion of the fixed framework passing under a second pulley 30 adj oininganother corner thereof and having an. upwardly extending continuation 26b which passes over another pulley 28 at the top of the framework. rlhe cable is then continued to provide another vertically disposed section 26a to the corner of the platform and passing under a pulley 31 and continuing in the horizontally disposed section 26c which extends along the side of the platform opposite the section 26C previously re ferred to. yl`his part of the cable then passes under pulley 33 and is continued in the upwardly extending portion 26" previously dcscribed; it thus being evident that the endless cable provides oppositely moving sections .adjoining each corner of the vertically movable platform in the mani-ici` indicated and that section 261 of the cable between pulloy 32 and pulley 28 at one end of the framework is diagonally disposed, while the corresponding arrangement of the pulleys at the opposite end is somewhat different, providing the vertically disposed sections 261 of the cable at that'end, of the framework, and thus avoiding interference with the lifting mechanisml which is disposed at this point.

rllhe lifting mechanism consists of the gearing 40 operated by a hand crank 41 and provided with a ratchet 42, with the drum 44 having the end of cable 47 secured thereto and wound around its periphery. Cable 4'? has a portion disposed over the top of pulley 50, which is supported above horizontal member 8; cable 47' then engages un der the pulley supported at one side of the vertically movable platform 4, next engaging a pulley 61 also supported upon the horizontal member 8, and then engages bcneath another pulley 62 similarly disposed along the platform member 4, inally terminating with its end securedV te the cross member 8. The gearing 40 and the drum,

44V are disposed upon a diagonal framework 70, which braces the uprights 8 adjacent the ends of the mechanism as well as supporting the lifting mechanism,

ln the operation of my device the entire mechanism may be moved to any suitable level as representedA in Fig 1 with guideways 16 swung into engagementwith the platform from which it is desired tounload a portable container. The container is then A sec-` rolled upon the platform 4l- `with flanges 17 engaging the casters and guiding them uponl the tracks of the platform. In certain cases guideways 16 will be provided at the opposite sides of the platform and the portable container may be rolled oil' at that side of the portable loading plat-form. In other cases it may be desired to move the loading platform some distance and then unload the portable container. l/Vhenever a platform, from which a portable container is tor be loaded or unloaded, is at a substantially different height than that of the platform et., that platform may be moved by virtue of the lifting mechanism to approximately the level of the adjoining platform. The liftingl mechanism is operated by the hand. crank l1 which imparts the lifting effort through the train of gears 40 to the drum del; upon which is wound `the cable a7, thus serving to draw up the pulleys GO and 62 and the entire platform 4l. Since the lifting effort is applied to onlyone side of the platform Ll, there might be a tendency for such an arrangement to cause the platform to tip or to bind in its supporting means, if this were not arranged as previously described to maintain the platform substantially level, thus serving to impart indirectly the lifting effort of the hand crank and operative mechanism to the four corners of the platform 4;. Since the ends of arms 25 are loosely slidable between the sections of uprights 3, these members are held from any substantial sidewise movement as for example When the framework 1 is located upon an inclined surface.

I claim: y

l. In an elevating mechanism, a vertically movable member with a horizontal supporting surface thereon, lifting means secured at one edge of the member to impart movement thereto and supporting means for said member automatically to keep its supporting surface substantially horizontal at all times.

2. In an elevating mechanism, a vertically movfable member with a horizontal supporting surface, lifting means unsymmetrically connected to the movable member, and supporting means symmetrically connected to the member, said supporting means being arranged automatically to keep the member in substantially parallel positions during the imparting of movement thereto by the lifting means. v

3. In an elevating mechanism, a vertically movable member with lifting means secured at one edge of the member to impart movement thereto, and equalized supporting means symmetrically secured to the movable member at spaced points to keep it in substantial parallelism in any of its various positions.

4:. In an elevating mechanism, a vertically movable member with a horizontal supporting surface, lifting means secured to one edge of the member to impart movement thereto, and supporting means for said member to keep its supporting surface substantially horizontal at all itmes, said supporting means consisting of an endless cable running over a series of pulleys.

5. In an elevating mechanism, a vertically movable member with a horizontal supporting surface, equalized supporting means symmetrically connected to corners of the movable member, said means consisting of an endless cable running over pulleys disposed so that portions of the cable adjacent Veach corner are arranged to have oppositely movable sections.

6. In an elevating mechanism, a vertically movable member with a horizontal supporting surface, an equalized supporting means consisting of an endless flexible member connected to the vertically movable member, said flexible member having sections adjacent each point of connection with the movable .member which are movable upwardly or downwardly therewith and oppositely novable sections intermediate these sections.

7. In an elevating mechanism, a vertically movable member with a horizontal supporting surface thereon, lifting means secured at one side of the member, equalized supporting means secured to opposite portions of the member and arranged to transfer the force applied by the lifting means toboth sides of the movable member.

8. In an elevating mechanism, consisting of a vertically movable member carried by a framework having upright corner members adjacent each corner of the movable member, corners of the movable member being secured to an endless flexible memer running over pulleys at the upper part of each of the frame uprights and then under pulleys adjacent the base of each of the said uprights.

9. In an elevating mechanism, consisting of a vertically movable member and a fixed framework With uprightsadjacent each corner of the movable member, and lifting mechanism supported at the end adjacent two of the uprights, equalized supporting means for the vertically movable membeii, consisting of an endless flexible element running over pulleys at the upper part of each of the uprights and then under pulleys adjacent the lower ends of the uprights, said element having a section diagonally arranged opposite the end of the framework carrying the lifting mechanism and having sections vertically arranged vat either side of the frame at the end carrying the lifting mechanism to provide a space for the same.

10. In an elevating mechanism, a movable member with portions at the corners thereof running in uprights constituting a fixed Cil llO

framework, lifting mechanism having a drum and a flexible member Winda-ble upon said drum and connected With one side of the movable bocly, said flexible member run* ning over a pulley secured to a connecting member between two uprights and running under a pulley upon the movable member with its end fixed to the said cross-member between the two uprights.

Yll. ln a portable carrier, a platform having tracks thereon for the engagement of casters upon portable containers to be rolled upon the platform, pivoted guidevvays disposed at ends of the tracks and movable to engage platforms at different levels, said guideways having flared flanges thereon disposed to guide casters upon containers onto the tracks upon the movable platform.

l2. A portable carrier having a platform with a horizontally pivoted guideway projecting therefrom to engage other platforms at various heights, and means pivotally connecting said guideway to said platform, said means being provided With a pintle receiving recess and a groove forming a continuation of that recess to permit ready removal of the guideway from the carrier.

13. A portable carrier having a platformL for the reception of casters upon containers and a bracket at the edge of the platform for securing a swinging guideway thereto, Said bracket being provided With upstanding flanges for guiding the casters upon the platform, and with means for detachably engaging the guidevvay.

14. A portable carrier having a platform With tracks for the reception of casters upon portable containers, a swinging guideway secured to said platform by a bracket having upstanding flanges for guiding the casters upon the tracks, said bracket being connected to said guideway by pintles engaged in recesses provided with grooved continuations to permit ready removal of the guide- Way from the platform.

l5. In a portable carrier, a vertically movable platform supported by flexible means hung from a framework having upright members formed of two spaced parallel sections, and projections upon the platform loosely slidable in and spaced between said frame sections.

1G. In a portable elfes/ating mechanism, avertically movable platform supported by flexible means hung from the framework having upright members formed of two spaced parallel sections, portions of said flexible means disposed between the sections of each of the frame uprights, and projections upon the platform engaging these portions of the flexible means.

Signed by me at Boston, Massachusetts, this ninth day of February, 1926.

' DONALD Vif. PERU?. 

